The Sydney Film Festival runs from 8-19th of June, offering an incredible array of films. Here's a few highlights:
1. Opening Night Film: Goldstone
From Australian director Ivan Sen comes another stylish outback western/noir thriller, with Aaron Pedersen reprising his role of Jay Swan from Sen's 2013 film Mystery Road. Goldstone finds Swan in the small town of the same name, where he instantly clashes with local cop Josh (Alex Russell). The two must overcome their differences to uncover an ugly truth the town has been hiding. Also starring Jacki Weaver, Cheng Pei-Pei, and David Wenham.
Watch the trailer here.
2. Swiss Army Man
Hank (Paul Dano), is stranded on a desert island and is beginning to give up hope, when he spots a corpse washed up on the beach. Soon, he realises the corpse named Manny (Daniel Radcliffe) is the key to escaping his island hell and returning to the woman he loves.
Watch the trailer here.
3. Viva
Promising to uncover an authentic look at Cuba, Irish filmmaker Paddy Breathnach's Viva follows Jesus (Héctor Medina), a young man who longs to perform at the local drag club. But his dreams of the spotlight are complicated when his estranged father comes back into his life.
Watch the trailer here.
4. Tickled
When David Farrier stumbled upon the world of "competitive tickling competitions" he had to know more, but after contacting the event organisers, the reply Farrier received was a barrage of homophobic vitriol. Desperate to investigate, he traveled from New Zealand to the US to uncover a surprisingly sinister world that's anything but a laugh.
Watch the trailer here.
5. Captain Fantastic
Viggo Mortensen stars as Ben Cash, a man who has raised his six children in a stretch of woodlands, far from civilisation. When tragedy strikes the family, they have no choice but to enter and confront a world all too foreign to them.
Watch the trailer here.
6. Elvis & Nixon
Based on the actual meeting between President Nixon and Elvis Presley, Elvis & Nixon stars Michael Shannon and Kevin Spacey in a truly fascinating depiction of one of history's most incredible and insane meetings.
Watch the trailer here.
7. Down Under
Described as a "black comedy" set in the aftermath of the 2005 Cronulla riots, Down Under looks at two groups from both sides of the fight, destined to clash with one another. Starring Lincoln Younes, Rahel Romahn, and Michael Denkha.
8. High-Rise
Based on J.G. Ballard's novel, High-Rise stars Tom Hiddleston, Jeremy Irons, and Sienna Miller. When Laing (Hiddleston) moves into a luxury apartment block on the outskirts of London, he is offered everything he needs - except contact with the outside world. But when the electrical system of the building fails, the residents lose their sense of moral judgement, and chaos ensues.
Watch the trailer here.
9. Sing Street
When Conor (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo) is forced to leave his cushy private school for a tough inner-city public one, he decides to form a band in an attempt to woo a mysterious girl and fit in in his new surrounds. With a soundtrack featuring music by The Cure, Duran Duran, A-Ha, The Clash, Hall and Oates, Spandau Ballet, and The Jam, Sing Street will be stuck in your head for weeks.
Watch the trailer here.
10. The Lure
Described as a "Polish romance-horror-mermaid-musical", The Lure follows two mermaid vampires, Silver and Gold, as they emerge from the sea, assume human form, and mingle in a Warsaw nightclub.
Watch the teaser here.
11. Weiner
After he, very famously, accidentally tweeted a photo of his bulge on Twitter in 2011, Anthony Weiner resigned from congress. In 2013 he ran for Mayor of New York, which was quickly undone (heh) by his return to Twitter using the alias "Carlos Danger". This documentary gives the viewer unrestrained access to the smart, charismatic, and erratic politician.
Watch the trailer here.
12. It's Only the End of the World
Based on the play by Jean-Luc Lagarce, It's Only the End of the World features an all-star cast including Marion Cotillard, Vincent Cassel, Gaspard Ulliel, and Léa Seydoux. When a successful writer returns home for the first time in 12 years to inform his family of his impending death, he is met with varying degrees of warmth, and what should have been a happy reunion quickly deteriorates.
13. Kiki
Following in the footsteps of the iconic Paris is Burning, Kiki is a documentary that puts a spotlight on New York's voguing ballroom competitions. Kiki was the winner of the Teddy Award for queer filmmaking at the Berlin International Film Festival this year.
14. Rosita
When a middle-aged widower, Ulrik (Jens Albinus), arranges a marriage with a mid-twenties Filipino woman Rosita (Mercedes Cabral), the pair must navigate language barriers and outside judgement. But the true struggle begins when Ulrik's adult son Johannes (Mikkel Boe Følsgaard) begins to form a bond with Rosita.
Watch the trailer here.
15. Certain Women
Based on Maile Meloy's short stories, Certain Woman tells three intersecting stories of independent women trying to reshape the world around them. Starring Laura Dern, Michelle Williams, and Kristen Stewart.
16. Fukushima, Mon Amour
After a triple catastrophe of an earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear leak devastate the area of Fukushima, Marie (Rosalie Thomass) leaves Germany to volunteer for an organisation that spreads cheer to elderly refugees in the area. There, she meets Satomi (Kaori Momoi), the last geisha in town, and the two women form a friendship unlike any other.
17. The BFG
One for the whole family, based on Roald Dahl's epic book, The BFG follows 10-year-old Sophie (Ruby Barnhill) as she meets the 24-feet tall Big Friendly Giant (Mark Rylance). But it isn't all gentle giants, as Sophie is soon introduced to the likes of Bloodbottler (Bill Hader) and Fleshlumpeater (Jemaine Clement).
Watch the trailer here.
